Electrically-heated steam-radiator.



s. THOMPSON. I ELEGTRIGALLY HEATED STEAM RADIATOR.

AiPLIGATIOK FILED MAB. 12, 1912 Patented Sept. 3, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

J. S. THOMPSON.

ELBCTRIGALLY HEATED STEAM RADIATOR.

" APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12, 1912.

1 037 3 6 9 Patented Sept. 3, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH SEXTON THOMPSON, 0F MILL VALLEY, CALIFORNIA.

ELECTRICALLY-HEATED STEAM-RADIATOR.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH S. Tnoiurson, a citizen of the United States, residing in Mill Valley, in the county of Marin and State of California, have, invented a new and useful Improvement in Electrically- Heated Steam-Radiators, of which the following is a specification.

My inventlon relates to means for gen erating steam for the purpose of heating a steam radiator and includes means for generating the steam and means for automatically regulating the amount generated, and for automatically varying the amount of current consumed and for automatically discontinuing all flow of current, should the temperature of the air surrounding the radiator be such as to permit steampressure to result from the generation of steam at a rate faster than that at which the radiator condenses it. I attain this object by the de vice illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure l is a side elevation of my device attached to an ordinary radiator- Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section of the steam genorator. Fi 3 is a sectional plan view on line 3-3 ot Fig. 2, showing the carbon electrodes D. Fig. 4: is a sectional plan view on line 4-4: of Fig. 2 showing the carbon electrodes D. Fig. 5 is an elevation to further illustrate the stirrup O and ball P.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the se i 'eral views.

A is an ordinary radiator designed for hotwater heating systems and B is a return pipe connecting the enerator C with the farther end of the ra ator A.

Part C is a case or container of the generator. Parts D are carbon electrodes supplied with current from the electrical connection E. Parts D are carbon electrodes supplied from the electrical connection E. These electrical connections and carbon electrodes are supported by and insulated from part F which forms the lower cover of the case C. They are also insulated from the case C by the rubber insulation G.

When water is supplied in the case C, to sufiicient degreeto submerge the carbons D and D, or any of than, current will flow from one carbon to mother with the effect or' heating the Inter, and should suflicientwater be supplied through the aperture H, and following the path'of the arrows, be

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 12,

fIeeto returntothendiltwatflneapertum Patented Sept. 3, 1912.

1912. Serial No. 683,315.

J there would be continuous circulation of heated water flowing through the generator into the radiator and back by the return pipe, B. This water would in time be beated to the point where it would give off steam into the portion above the water level, which is shown by the dot-ted line in Fig. 1.

Should the steam accumulate faster than the surrounding temperature would cause it to condense in the radiator, a steam pressure develops and this pressure acts on the diaphragm Kftending to'raise it against the spring N, the pressure of which is regulated by screw M. Under pressure of the steam, the diaphragm K raises the stirrup piece 0, which-carries the ball P, which is so placed that it is possible for it, when raised sufficiently high, to close the aperture Q, cutting off the circulation of the water. Whenever circulation is' checked, the/steam generated forces the water back into the pipe B and current ceases to flow until. the steam pressure in the generator C drops to the point where the water is permitted to rise and again submerge the two lower electrodes in the sets D and D. Whenever the flow of current is again established, steam is again generated and the process is repeated.

In actual operation the diaphragm. K rarely causes the ball P to entirely close the aperture Q, and as a result, the flow of water and steam, instead of being stopped, is partly restricted, and thus the heater automatically holds such steam pressure in the radiator as is pre-determined by the setting of the screw M, with acomparatively steady flow of current.

Part B is an ordinary globe valve which is used in connection with the funnel S for filling the generator and radiator.

What I claim is:

1. In an electric water heater, the combination of .a vessel adapted to contain water, supplied through anaperture in its bottom, a plurality of electrodes arranged in Ice the vesseha ball'valve above the electrodes,

of a vessel having an insulating lining and a. lower and upper aperture, adapted to contuin water to be heated by electrodes insuhted from the vml and so arranged that the water can flow around and between them, provided with a ball valve, and a diaphragm operating to control the submerging of the electrodes by throttling the upper aperture, all substantially as described.

3. In an electric Water heating apparatus, in combination With a boiler tar chamber, a plurality of electrodes inclosed therein, and insulated from the boiler or chamber, a ball valve set above said electrodes, a diaphragm operating said ball valve, a spiral spring tending to counteract the diaphragm and holding the ball valve open, and a thumb screw operating to adjust the compression of said spring.

4. In an electric Water heating apparatus, in combination with a boiler or chamber having insulated Walls and a plurality of carbon electrodes, means for conducting electric current to said electrodes, and a diaphragm operated ball valve regulating the supply of Water submerging the electrodes.

5. In an electric Water heating apparatus, the combination of a chamber, having insulated Walls, a diaphragm operated ball valve in the upper port-ion of said chamber, a plurality of carbon electrodes in the lower portion of said chamber, means for electrically energizing the carbon electrodes, an aperture at the bottom of the chamber for supplying Water to be heated, and an outletaperture at the top of the chamber, controlled by the diaphragm operated ball valve.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 5th day of February 1912.

K JOSEPH SEXTON THOMPSON.

Witnesses:

H; F. GEIGER, E. F. SIxTUs. 

